View Full Version : Iffy Indy ? Am I too antsy?


Lexicon740il
11-09-2006, 09:45 PM
So I wanted to address a few issues before tucking UMA away for the winter.
1. She was giving a sweet Anti-Freeze smell after longer trips....
2. Small dime size drops on the garage floor looks to be oil...
3. CEL came on
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So I go to Autozone and have them scan it. it comes back Fuel trim bank 1,
and Bank 2..
Another member told me its O2 sensors or osv/ERG diaphram..
I figure as long as I'm having my indy do some pre storage prep. work I'll have them scan it to see if they can narrow it down to 1 of the 4 o2 sensors or the ERG/OSV... BTW I plan on doing this myself in the Spring of course, the writeup on e38.org makes it look to easy to pay to have them do it.. not to mention it runs perfect and I won't be driving it for the next few months until the snow melts...
Blah Blah.
Anyways...

I drop it off Wed. mornin 8 am. I dont get a call all day...5:30 rolls around.. So I call them figuring they'll close soon...The guy says yeah I was gonna call u. The collant issue was fixed it was just a leaky hose.... We are still looking for the source of the oil leak...I ask what about the CEL whats up with the O2 sensors...he replys we are still working on that. we see it may be realted to a coolant issue, were checking for vaccume leaks now..I'll call you later tonight or tommorow and let you know what we find..

So It's 7:30 they are closed its day 2 and they never called me back yesterday night or all day today....

When I dropped it off I explained the CEL codes I had read. About the 4 o2 sensors and the ERG. As possiable culpruts. I also mentioned I had read the Valley pan / upper intake gaskets as the most common points of leakage failure I have seen mentioned in the bimmerforums....

So tell me Should I be worried that a shop dosen't call me back and cant find a oil leak in 2 days..
And is it normal for them to be telling me about coolant and vaccume leak testing in relation to fuel trim CEL codes is this a test for the OSV?

So I'm a little insulted they never called me as well as being concerned if they are qualified to work on my baby if they can't find an oil leak.....
It makes me want to pick it up in the morning and pay them for fixing my hose and say thanks anyways I'll take it to a shop who calls there customers back..
Am I overreacting??????
Is this normal? Every time I have ever had any of my cars serviced I have been called the same day I dropped my car of for it's appointment...
And then not get called the next day either after I have made it evident I want to know the progress on my baby.......
Whats the word....Be patient or pick up my 740 in the mornin????:shifty:shifty:shifty

plik
11-10-2006, 08:39 AM
As much as I love www.e38.org, the write up they have for the OSV is horrible (and wrong). Now, if you're going to do the manifold gaskets, then just remove the entire manifold and then address the OSV (which is on the rear cover plate to the intake manifold) after the manifold is out.

Click here to read my current (exact same problem as you have) thread, http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=624323&page=2

To answer your question about "is it normal for them to be telling me about coolant and vaccume leak testing in relation to fuel trim CEL codes is this a test for the OSV?" Yes -- they're right on the money.

And regarding the "fuel trim" error from your check engine light, that has been the all-time hardest thing for anyone (mechanics included) to diagnose since I've owned my car. So, if it's taking them a few days, I wouldn't worry. I mean, any shop you take it to will take the same amount of time (in my opinion).

Lexicon740il
11-10-2006, 07:29 PM
Update, I told them I wanted it back.
They reset CEL after coolant issue was addressed and it didnt re-trip.???
They put the DYE in the oil to detect where the leak is coming from he said it might be valve gaskets...

So He said it had not leaked since the dye has been added (noon today) and that I should bring it back next week and see where the dye shows up and if the CEL retrips...

Final price = 30.00 :eek:

So do I bring it back next week or go somewhere else? 3 full days in the shop.
One hose fixed, one CEL reset, DYE added to oil...
@ 30.00 that tells me it took them 30min. to do what they did...They had my ride 3 days
Am I wrong to think that they should have had the DYE in my oil finding the leak the first day?? He told me they put it in at noon today.
And the CEL, does just resetting it and giving me no answers as to the Fuel Trim codes I got read at autozone. constitute a fix?
Am I being too critical?
I know if I had a shop and a guy brought in a Bimmer and requested I find the source of a leak in his engine. I would first look for the leak and if I couldnt find it I would put in DYE and do a blacklight test. not wait 2.5 days until I decided to do a DYE test....
Any input is appreciated.

01sport
11-11-2006, 12:48 AM
I think there are different types of indys.

There's the guy who answers the phone, talks to the customer, orders the parts, takes the money, supervises his employees and works on cars himself. This guy is really busy, has too many cars to do in one day and has very little time to talk to you. He'll save you money because he dosen't have time to do extra work. If you need a water pump or an oil change in a hurry this is the guy.

Then there's the guy who does all the same stuff but rarely touches a car. He'll listen to you, talk you ear off and suggest all sorts of possible fixes for your car. He'll cost you more because he'll suggest changing the OSV as long as he's got the intake off to do the gaskets. Not necessarily a bad thing. If you have a strange smell or funny noise this is the guy you need.

Don't burn any bridges. I would look for an additional Indy, not a replacement Indy. Sure it would be nice if you had one guy that really knew you car but IMHO it's not realistic. Of course in L.A. there's BMW shops all over the place.

confuZion3
11-14-2006, 02:56 AM
I feel the same way about shops now. My Z3 was painted a year-and-a-half ago right before I bought it by my BMW dealer (they hired a sub-contractor to paint her). They only painted the front bumper (that's all it needed) and now almost all of the paint has bubbled up and flaked off on the bumper. Just a few weeks ago, I got balljoints installed by a local non-BMW shop. The first time they rubbed the brake rotor cover against the rotors because they were installed sideways. The second time, they were pulverized upon installation. In addition, BMW didn't align the car properly after the installs. So, basically, I can't find anyone who can do what I pay them to do in any reasonable fashion--I feel your pain.

I hope everything works out for you.

Lexicon740il
11-15-2006, 12:04 AM
Update.
The coolant issue was never fixed IMHO. Same coolant stink when I pull her into the garage. I also noticed some mist escaping after a 3hr. ride the last weekend.
The CEL came back today. I'll have Autozone read it for me tommorow.
After this coolant issue still being here I feel its time to find a new shop.
I thought if anything good came from this it was my hose being fixed and not having to smell rad. fluid but I guess that was too much to ask for.

My buddy recommended a local guy called The Volkswagon Man..
He does VW,BMW,AUDI,BENZ....
My friend swears by him.
I let ya know how it goes.
Thanks for the input guys......

Aradaiel
11-15-2006, 01:11 AM
Coolant smell can be many things, I have it too and I think it's my bleeder screw. I'm just too lazy to replace it.